Role Purpose:
The Finance, Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Manager will play a key role in supporting business growth by providing financial insight, forecasting, and strategic business partnering across the organisation. Leading a small team aligned to business functions and project teams, you will drive financial performance, improve decision-making, and ensure strong financial control across projects and operations.
You will partner with department heads, project leads, and senior stakeholders to translate commercial strategy into financial outcomes, improve forecasting accuracy, optimise profitability and cash flow, and strengthen financial understanding across the business. The role also supports month-end reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and continuous improvement of financial processes, systems, and controls.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
- Deliver insightful analysis on business, departmental, and project performance.
- Maintain financial integrity across revenue, margin, cash flow, and project reporting.
- Support commercial decisions through financial modelling, scenario analysis, and bid evaluation.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and drive profitability improvements.
- Produce clear, accurate management reporting and dashboards.
- Improve financial reporting, controls, systems, and forecasting processes.
- Drive simplification, automation, and continuous improvement across finance activities.
- Develop and maintain cash flow forecasting and reporting.
- Support working capital improvements and timely customer billing.
- Promote a cash-positive approach across projects and operations.
- Lead, coach, and develop the FP&A team.
- Build strong relationships across finance, commercial, engineering, and operations teams.
- Improve financial awareness and accountability across the business.
- Support a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on growth and continuous improvement.
- Support year-end audit requirements.
- Provide ad hoc analysis and support to the Finance Director and senior leadership team.
Skills & Experience
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent experience.
- Strong FP&A and commercial finance experience, ideally within manufacturing, engineering, or project-based environments.
- Knowledge of IFRS and revenue recognition preferred.
- Experience leading and developing teams.
- Strong analytical, financial modelling, and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems.
- Ability to influence stakeholders and communicate financial information clearly.
Personal Attributes
- Demonstrates our company values of Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence and Courage.
- Hands on manager that is self-motivated and pro-active member of a Finance team with a commitment to getting the job done.
- Highly organised and methodical approach, with an eye for detail.
- Dedicated to furthering the standards of the department and finding solutions that fit the business.
- Able to cope with change and conflicting demands.
- Good personal time management and priority setting and comfortable working to deadlines.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and written skills being able to clearly explain financial information and terminology to non-technical parties.
- Change-driven, decisive, adaptable and resilient.
- Inspires others to achieve.
- Learns and shares knowledge.
Work life balance:
- 37.5 hour working week
- Lunchtime finishes on a Friday
- Hybrid / flexible working arrangements
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Christmas closure
- Holiday purchasing scheme
Benefits:
- Group pension plan – matched contributions up to 5%
- Income protection scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme gives you and your family access to 4 key services including remote GP service, second opinion, mental health pathway service and physiotherapy consultations
- Life assurance policy, including bereavement counselling and probate helpline
- Company shares incentive plan and save as you earn scheme
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
- Wellbeing initiatives, including access to wellbeing app and the addition of mental health support for all employees. Plus, regular activities across our sites to support and promote wellbeing
- Regular sports and social activities
- Gym membership discounts
- Reward platform (high street discounts, employee benefits, health, and wellbeing offerings).
- Recruitment referral bonus scheme
- Excellent learning & development opportunities
- Great working environment with free, onsite car parking across all our locations
Security Clearance Requirements:
Due to the nature of our business, our staff need to be able to obtain UK Security Clearance as a mandated requirement. Therefore, if successful, you will need to provide proof of identity, employment history and right to work in the UK, along with proof of UK residency for at least five years.
Finance, Planning & Analysis Manager in Horsham employer: Chess Dynamics
Chess Dynamics is an exceptional employer located in Horsham, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the defence technology sector. Employees benefit from continuous professional development opportunities and are encouraged to contribute to cutting-edge projects that have a global impact. Join us to be part of a team that values engineering excellence and teamwork, making a meaningful difference in critical systems worldwide.
